Ear mold protector

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new method of ear protection embodying a combined ear plug and protector, having a medicated salve sealant cavity, and made of resilient material and embodying a manually operable ball valve of the same material at the innermost end in the auditory canal extension thereof.

0 United States Patent m1 3,603,309

[72] Inventor Fred Wesemann 2,88l,759 4/1959 Hocks et al 128/152 239Villa Vista, Sterling, Colo. 80751 FOREIGN PATENTS ii fi No $13 120.5711/1948 Sweden 128/152 Pmcmed Sept. 74,488 8/l9l7 Switzerland 128/152Primary Examinen-Lawrence Charles Attorney-Wilbur A. E. Mitchell [54]EAR MOLD PROTECTOR Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 128/152 [51] inLCl A6li 11/02 Of Search inventign relatgs toa new method of ear protection embodying a combined ear plug andprotector, 56 R f ed having a medicated salve sealant cavity, and madeof resilient l e erences material and embodying a manually operable ballvalve of the UNITED STATES PATENTS same material at the innermost end inthe auditory canal ex- 2,785,675 3/1957 Berkman 128/152 tension thereof.

PATENIEDSEP new 3,603, 303

INVENTOR: Fred Wesemann ATTORNEY! EAR MOLD PROTECTOR Noise is a threatto hearing and a serious health problem. Factory workers show twice thehearing loss of office workers at the same age. Wheat farmers workingwith noisy tractors also show such hearing loss. The permanent hearingloss produced by extended exposure to certain occupational noises is oneof the common types of neurosensory deafness and constitutes, in ourincreasingly industrial and mechanized civilization, a serious healthproblem. Four factors have emerged as.

basic considerations: characteristics of the noise (primarily its toneor pitch); length of exposure to the noise; the intensity (volume) ofthe noise; and individual susceptibility. The human ear has a built-inmechanism which protects hearing, to a certain extent, against loudnoises. The muscles attached to two of the small conducting bones of themiddle ear contract when noise volume is high, thus diminishing thevibratory pressures on the inner ear and auditory nerve. Thesusceptibility of an individual to loud noises depends upon how wellthese muscles function.

Sound frequencies above l6,000 cycles are generally inaudible and areknown as ultrasonics. The speech zone is from 500 to 2,000 cycles, andhearing loss in this area results in handicap. The decibel range ofsound is from a whisper at about db. to ajet aircraft at 160 or more.Ordinary conversation take place at a volume of about 60 db. It has beendetermined that there is a very high probability of damage in noisesstarting at levels of 120 to 130 db., even with short exposure. Volumeof 100 to 120 db. is likely to produce ultimate damage over longerperiods of exposure, and noise at even 90 to 100 db. may produce damagein highly susceptible individuals. The level of 90 db. lies about midwaybetween the noise of heavy auto traffic and that of a subway. Some ofthe types of noise known to be damaging include firecrackers, firearmshots and industrial and occupational noises, such as those in a tinshop, a factory, around aircraft, or those encountered in using tractorswith faulty mufflers in farming. Drivers of sports cars and themechanics who tune them often suffer noise damage. Persons who shoot arifle or shotgun right-handed may damage the left ear, and vice versa.Hearing loss caused by noise may be either temporary or permanent. Allof us have noticed that we are briefly deafened after a sudden, loudnoise. Since the auditory nerve can rehabilitate itself in about sixmonths after minor damage, the division between temporary and permanentloss is set at that point. Prevention is the most important. Noisesfound to be dangerous should be controlled by providing protectiveequipment such as earplugs or muffs.

Some people have perforated conditions of the ear drum causing middleear infection, such as on swimming, so it is necessary to effect an earseal. For them I provide my ear plug with a peripheral pocket or groovein which a medicated antibiotic sealant salve can be placed, to betterseal out water in combination with my novel ball valve and to assureinfection prevention of the inner ear, on use of my novel ear protector.

The conventional heretofore ear plug or muff-shell type protector usedhas been without too much success, to protect the sensory cells of theinner ear from high and low frequency sound waves common to irritatingnoises, such as in manufacturing plants, as far as known. The primaryfault of the commonly used ear plugs has been their tendency to causediscomfort to the wearer.

It is to be remembered that the tympanic membrane constitutes completephysical partition between the auditory meatus and the cavity containingthe tympanum and which cavity is connected to the mouth cavity by theeustachian tube. This tube, in its pneumatic functioning, is intended toeffect a balance in air pressure between the auditory meatus and thetympanic cavity. This function is effective when air pressures varygradually, but it fails completely with the violent pressure change inthe auditory meatus caused by sudden intense sound waves. It is thepurpose of ear protecting devices to annul the injurious effect of thisair concussion.

The heretofore conventional solid or noncircumferentially expandable earplug is held in place as: a result of fitting snugly within the auditorycanal of the wearer, and results in an effectiveness in proportion toits snug fit therein. To overcome the uncomfortableness to the wearerthey are usually made of a rubberlike material and they are solid tocompletely block off or dampen noise sound wave transmission.

A real problem exists for shooters and at shooting matches, in thatthere is great danger of injuring the shooters hearing from theexcessive noise. An effort to meet that complete blockage of that soundtransmission has been heretofore made by the use of conventional solidear plugs of the type mentioned. There are times however, when theshooter has to be able to hear, so he has to remove the plug for thatpurpose, with resultant need of repeated insert and removal periodicallythroughout the meet.

Applicant's novel ear protector is made of a conventional resilient,medically qualified and so-called plastic, material in its entire outerconfiguration, comprisinga combined auditory canal ear plug and ear orpinna shell, with novel features, namely: by providing an internalcompletely enclosed sound dampening area filled with sound dampeningacoustical material, such as styrofoam; by providing a small attenuatoropening from the exterior longitudinally throughout the ear plug portionwhich leads into the ear canal, and at the extreme inner end of thatcanal projection portion providing a novel operable ball-valve forclosing that end whenever the wearer wishes to close it and with thatball operable by a pull-string extending through that attenuator hole,for a closing operation on the wearer pulling the string to seat theball into the flared inner end of the attenuator opening; the wearer maymanipulate the unit in the ear with his fingers when he wishes torelease the ball from sealing that inner end opening without removingthe protector unit from his ear; and by providing that combination witha salve sealant carried in an outer pocket at the ear plug end thereof.

This invention relates to a method of protecting the tympanic membranceand tympanum of the ear and the inner car by providing such a novel softresilient operable ball valve with such resilient auditory canal plug,with the latter having a salve sealant carrying pocket and having asmall attenuator opening, combination, on a closing of the attenuatoropening for prevention of sound entering the auditory canal. Further, byproviding that novel operable method of expanding said resilient innerend of the canal plug portion by means of such ball valve while withinthe inner canal of the ear, in combination with the medicated salvesealant, effects a tight seal of the plug extension in the ear auditorycanal while accomplishing that closing of the attenuator opening.

This invention is unique and entirely different from the heretofore earplugs and shells conventionally used, in that, in addition to my noveloperable ball-valve expansible-canaltube, of my protector unit,providing a novel mechanical means to protect the pinna of the ear fromconcentrating sound waves into the external auditory canal towards thetympanic membrane, also provide a sound, dampening acoustical materialembodied in a sound trap in the main pinna shell portion of my overallprotector unit.

By the use of my ear protector, l interfere with the concentration ofsound waves, and l substantially reduce the number of such wavesreaching the tympanic membrane and ear drum. 1 also provide medicatedsealant salve with such sound wave protection for the wearer having aninjured ear drum.

l form my ear protector unit for the individual wearer by first makingan ear mold impression, by the simple method of placing a piece ofcotton in the canal of the ear with the index finger as far asreasonably possible without causing pain and which cotton has a stringattached thereto extending out of the car; then I mix the conventionalmedically qualified plastic material into its soft mass form and, beforethe mixture congeals, form that mixture into an elongated portion aboutthe size of a small carrot and insert the small end thereof into thecanal portion of the ear and press it firmly with the index finger tocause the material to enter the canal and reach the cotton pellet withjust enough force that the material expands and completely fills thecanal to that cotton pellet, and then I spreadingly press and work theremaining material completely over the exterior pinna configurations andcavity of the ear. After the material sets for about ten minutes in theear it is then removed, by a working of the jaws a few times, as ifchewing and by opening the mouth several times, and by gently pullingthat string and rotating the material into the angle of leastresistance. Then with that impression mold, in my laboratory, I make anexact ear protector combined single unit ear plug and shell for thatindividual wearer. It is to be noted, as shown in the drawing, that inthe formation thereofl provide a small approximate to decibel attenuatoropening from the exterior of the protector shell inwardly and completelythrough the canal plug extension portion thereof, and which extends intothe auditory canal. I provide a medicated salve sealant pocket on theouter surface of the inner ear end portion of the plug, to assist insealing the plug in the ear, and to protect the inner ear of thosewearers not having an ear drum from infection, on my novel valve closingof that plug, as will be explained. The inward end of that attenuatoropening of the plug portion is formed as a conical outwardly flaredextension of that attenuator opening. I provide a ball of the sameplastic material, having a diameter of about four times the size of thatof the attenuator opening, with a nylon string embedded in the ball andwith that string loosely extending throughout the length of thatattenuator opening and with a grasping ring on the outer end thereof. Itwill be seen when my protector is in place in the ear that an outwardpulling of the ring, at the outer end of the string extending from theball valve, will cause that ball to wedge within the conical extensionof the attenuator opening in direction outwardly of the ear canal thusclosing the attenuator opening. The wearer may release that ball byopening and working his mouth and jaws, which will cause the ball toslightly move and thereby be released, due to the conical angular wallpressure of the resilient side of that conical extension causing theball to slip out therefrom. Likewise the wearer can accomplish such aball opening by a manual manipulation of the protector outer pinnaportion in place in the ear with his fingers, which will cause thatrelease movement of the ball at that inner end.

Therefore it is a principal object of my invention to provide a novelhearing depressor ear piece of resilient material having a ball valveand adapted for mechanical operation of the ball valve, in combinationwith the resilient auditory canal portion thereof, into closed and openvalve relationship, by the wearer as may be desired, without thenecessity of removing the protector from the ear, in combination withsuch resiliency in affecting such valve operation.

Another object is to provide one or more medicated sealant salve pocketsexternally of the canal portion thereof, so the sealant may assist in abetter valve seal and also to thereby carry a medication in the sealantto guard against inner ear infection for wearers having ear drumdeformity.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Throughout the drawings I have used like or similar characters ofreference to indicate like or similar parts in the various views, and inwhich: i

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the outer pinna portion of the ear andshowing a partial vertical crosssectional extended auditory canalportion therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a similar view but with my novel ear protector in placetherein and its ball 23 wedgedly in place;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view similar to the one in FIG. 2 but with ball 23loosely inoperative;

FIG. 4 isan elevational view of my novel ear protector by itself,rotated so that the auditory canal extension portion thereof is tottheright as illustrated, instead as to the left as in the other views, toshow the configuration of the inner side of the entireprotector whichfits into the ear;

is a reduced partial vertical cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 is anenlarged partial cross-sectional view of the inner end of the auditorycanal extension portion of my protector and with the ball thereof pulledinto valve closed opera- .ble position; and

FIG. 7 is a similar view to that as shown in FIG. 6 but with theoperable ball having been released from valve closed position.

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show my novel ear protector finished product in itsentirety. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the novel innermost end of my auditorycanal extension portion 20 having the conically outwardly flaredextension 22, of the attenuator opening 21. I provide a ball 23 at thatconical extremity. Ball 23 is secured to one end of a string 24extending through opening 21. FIG. 6 shows closed ball valve 2322condition and FIG. 7 shows that valve in open condition. String 24 isapproximately inch longer than the overall length of the attenuator hole21 centrally of my protector 10. I secure a grasping ring at the outerend of the string 24. As explained, in the formation of the individualear protector, I form the elongated ear plug 20 with a relatively smallattenuator opening 21, extending completely from the outer surface of myprotector 10 throughout the length of that auditory canal or plugextension 20 portion thereof, and forming the inner end or extremity ofopening 21 as outwardly conically flared, as shown. Ball 23 is made ofthe same relatively resilient plastic material, of which the entireprotector 10 is made, with ball 23 of a diameter slightly less than theinner peripheral diameter of the outwardly flared and conical rim ofportion 22 of attenuator opening 21.

In this illustrated embodiment of my invention, I provide a peripheralgroove 30, in which the wearer places a suitable antibiotic medicatedsealant salve, before insert of plug 20 into the ear canal, which actsat body temperature to be dispersed around plug 20 for better sealingthereof in the ear canal on closing operation of my novel ball valve,and such as in swimming for a wearer without an ear drum, to keep outwater, and for medical reasons, to avoid inner ear infection for such awearer.

FIG. 6, I illustrate how a pulling of the string 24, by its ring 50, hascaused the ball 23 to wedgingly be pulled into the resilient conicalcavity 22, and thereby caused a slight resilient expansion of the outerperiphery of that end inner of the auditory canal plug extension 20 ofmy protector, for closed valve tube 21 condition, to prevent any soundwaves passing through that attenuator tube 21 into the inner auditorycanal extremity and against the tympanic membrane. That is the closedvalve condition which a shooter, for example, uses to block out thenoise, at a shooting match or a trap shoot or other firearm firingrange. Also, such closed valve condition would prevent water enteringinto the inner ear. It is to be noted that expansion, caused by thatclosed valve condition affected by the ball 23 wedging into cone end 22of that auditory canal end, effects a holding of that canal extensionend of my protector plug portion 20 in place in the car, by theillustrated peripheral expansion of that plug end.

It should further be noted that such valve 2322 closing, by thatslip-joint expansion, as just explained, effected by a pulling to theright, as illustrated in FIG. 7, of the ball 23 within the funnel likecone 22, by string 24, is capable of adjustment by the wearer. Shouldthat ball valve expansion be uncomfortable, the wearer may adjustinglyreduce same by a manipulating of that auditory canal extension.20portion of my protector as explained, by a yawning or opening of themouth or working of the jaws, or a slight compressive movement of theouter ear-shell protector surface, by his fingers, toward each other onthe outer exterior of my protector 10, at the points indicated by thedotted line reference characters R. Thereby such slight manipulationwill cause a slight flexing extended movement throughout the inner canalplug portion 20 sufficiently to cause the ball 23 to slip outwardly fromits the ability to be able manually to adjustably partially orcompletely release the ball 23 from that closed condition, incooperation with the resiliency of the material at that inner end ofthat canal extension of my protector, is a very important, essential andnovel part of my novel composite car protector. Further, the use of themedicated sealant salve, ex plained, carried in groove 30, accentuatesthat closed ball valve condition, as explained, and as will beunderstood,

As explained, it is to be noted in the formation of my entire outerpinna portion, fitting into the outer ear, that l imbed sound dampeningacoustical material, such as styrofoam 48, in an enclosed inner cavity Ktherein and which inner cavity extends completely around the attenuatorhole 21, as illustrated. That acoustical material, in that enclosedcavity, increases the sound deadening affect of the main resilientplastic material used in the formation of my entire ear protector andassists in deadening the sound which otherwise would pass through theouter and upper thin parts thereof and of the ear tissue, and whichsound otherwise would proceed into the wearers mastoids and cause a boneconduction thereof. The size and placement of that enclosed cavity isillustrated by the dotted lines 40 of FIG. 3, and as shown in FIG. 5.

As explained heretofore, my composite ear protector is a combination ofa novel ear plug, in the inner auditory canal, of a pinna ear shellportion having the sound dampening acoustical material imbedded in anenclosed inner cavity therein, with a small attenuator hole extendingfrom the ear shell exterior longitudinally through the auditory canalear plug extension portion, and with that attenuator hole beingconically flared outwardly at its inner end, and with a ball-valve inthat attenuator hole flared portion and secured to a pull stringextending through the attenuator hole, with said ball-valve being in theform of a ball larger than the hole yet smaller than the peripheralextremity of the outer rim of that conical extension, with the ballattached to said string for an operable closing of that inner end of theattenuator hole of the ear plug auditory canal extension, in cooperationwith the resiliency of the material at that end, for effecting aball-valve closing or opening of that canal end, as may be desired, by apulling of that string having its other end extending exteriorally ofthe protector, in combination with the quality of suitable bodytemperature sealant salve material carried in groove pocket around theperiphery of that ball-valve end of the ear plug.

1 thus have an operable water, sound and air control valve in theauditory canal portion of my novel car plug by an expansion thereofeffected by a novel ball-valve. Stated differently, have provided anovel ball-valve expansion control of the resilient auditory canalportion of my novel combined ear protector for effecting a closing ofthe attenuator hole thereof and in combination with a suitable medicatedsealant salve, among others.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in combination, in a resilient expandable elongated car protectortubelike plug having an attenuator opening extending centrallylongitudinally through the plug and with the inner end thereof formed ina substantially conical outward flare and the plug adapted forcoextensive placement within the auditory canal of an car, a ball oflessor diameter than the overall inner diameter of the protectortub-plug outward conical portion and of greater diameter tlhan theinternal diameter of the attenuator opening and positioned to be heldnormally loosely within said conically flared opening by a stringsecured thereto and with the string extending slidably throughout theattenuator opening and slightly beyond the outer surface of the earplug, and a grasping member secured to the outer end of said string,said string being in overall length longer than the length of saidattenuator opening, whereby upon a pulling of the outer end of thestring the ball will form a releasable valve closing of the attenuatoropening at that flared end.

2. In an ear protector plug combination as defined in the precedingclaim 1, and characterized further by said ball also being of resilientmaterial and being adapted to be resiliently and removably wedged intoand held by and within said co nical portion of the attenuator openingupon an outward pulling of the string by the wearer of the ear plug tothereby effect a valve closing of the inner end of that attenuatoropening while said ear plug is in place in said canal, and by the innerend of the protector plug having an external salve cavity formedtherein.

3. An ear protector plug as defined in preceding claim 1 andcharacterized further by the definition of said plug having an earshield extension portion around the outer end of the attenuator openingand said extension being of a configuration to conform precisely andcoextensively to the surface of the outer ear of the wearer and having asound dampener sealed space-trap formed within the material of thatextension and around said attenuator opening and with a sound dampeningacoustical material within said dampener trap.

4, In combination with an ear plug ear protector having a plug portionof substantially resilient material and having an attenuator openingthroughout the length of the plug to permit sound waves to entertherethrough from the exterior thereof into the ear, an internallyoutwardly flared extension of said opening at its inner end, a moveableball in said flared opening and of greater diameter than that of saidattenuator opening, a string secured to and extending from said ball andthrough said attenuator opening and to a point on the exterior of theplug, and a grasping means on that exterior end of the string, said balland internal flared opening being adapted and formed so that upon amanual pulling of the string outwardly that the ball will therebyslideably and frictionally effect a self holding seal closing of saidattenuator opening outwardly flared extension by then being releasablyfrictionally held within and by said resilient conical opening end.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 603309 Dated September 7 1971 Inventor) Fred Wesemann It is certified thaterror appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 8, "neurosensory" should read neuro-sensory lines 26, 27,29, 30, 32 and 33, "db." should read dcb Column 2, line 1,"noncircumferentially" should read non-circumferentially line 6,"rubberlike" should read rubber-like Column 4; line 33, "tibiotic"should read ti-biotic Column 5, line 42, "quality" should read quantityline 46, "car" should read ear Column 6, line 2, "tubelike" should readtube-like Column 3, line 51, "af" should read ef- Signed and sealed thislst day of August 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents uscoMM-Dc 6D376-P69 .5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE; '9!0-355334,

1. In combination, in a resilient expandable elongated ear protectortubelike plug having an attenuator opening extending centrallylongitudinally through the plug and with the inner end thereof formed ina substantially conical outward flare and the plug adapted forcoextensive placement within the auditory canal of an ear, a ball oflessor diameter than the overall inner diameter of the protectortub-plug outward conical portion and of greater diameter than theinternal diameter of the attenuator opening and positioned to be heldnormally loosely within said conically flared opening by a stringsecured thereto and with the string extending slidably throughout theattenuator opening and slightly beyond the outer surface of the earplug, and a grasping member secured to the outer end of said string,said string being in overall length longer than the length of saidattenuator opening, whereby upon a pulling of the outer end of thestring the ball will form a releasable valve closing of the attenuatoropening at that flared end.
 2. In an ear protector plug combination asdefined in the preceding claim 1, and characterized further by said ballalso being of resilient material and being adapted to be resiliently andremovably wedged into and held by and within said conical portion of theattenuator opening upon an outward pulling of the string by the wearerof the ear plug to thereby effect a valve closing of the inner end ofthat attenuator opening while said ear plug is in place in said canal,and by the inner end of the protector plug having an external salvecavity formed therein.
 3. An ear protector plug as defined in precedingclaim 1 and characterized further by the definition of said plug havingan ear shield extension portion around the outer end of the attenuatoropening and said extension being of a configuration to conform preciselyand coextensively to the surface of the outer ear of the wearer andhaving a sound dampener sealed space-trap formed within the material ofthat extension and around said attenuator opening and with a sounddampening acoustical material within said dampener trap.
 4. Incombination with an ear plug ear protector having a plug portion ofsubstantially resilient material and having an attenuator openingthroughout the length of the plug to permit sound waves to entertherethrough from the exterior thereof into the ear, an internallyoutwardly flared extension of said opening at its inner end, a moveableball in said flared opening and of greater diameter than that of saidattenuator opening, a string secured to and extending from said ball andthrough said attenuator opening and to a point on the exterior of theplug, and a grasping means on that exterior end of the string, said balland internal flared opening being adapted and formed so that upon amanual pulling of the string outwardly that the ball will therebyslideably and frictionally effect a self holding seaL closing of saidattenuator opening outwardly flared extension by then being releasablyfrictionally held within and by said resilient conical opening end.